A needs assessment is a type of research done to collect information about the needs of a particular group of people or population. A needs assessment can create new services or assess the relevance of implemented initiatives (Reviere, 2013). Caregivers experience work-related issues that lead to problems such as stress and burnout, among others. These issues include lack of family and community support, and financial difficulties. They frequently experience physical and mental exhaustion. Most caregivers indicate that they feel overwhelmed and handle a high workload, yet they do not acknowledge the stress signs and symptoms they experience. Therefore, caregivers should share their problems and learn how to take care of themselves through a support group program. An assessment of a caregivers’ support group requirements is needed to identify the needs of group members. The subsequent parts of this paper discuss the identified needs of a caregiver’s support group.
Hypothetical Needs Assessment
Resources
Resources can include all the things required to implement a task or program/project. They can include equipment, staff, money, stationery, or facilities, among other things needed to complete a task or activity. According to Thiry (2015), lack of the needed resources can constrain the implementation and completion of tasks or programs. A resource can be storable or not storable. Storable resources are always available unless depleted and can be recharged by program activities that generate them. The non-storable resources require replenishing after a particular time regardless of whether they were used or not (Thiry, 2015). The identified storable and not storable resources are:
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A family member, a friend, or another caregiver to take care of the patient when the caregiver is attending support group sessions.
Transportation for caregivers who have to be accompanied by their care recipients.
Resources for care-recipients who accompany their caregivers.
Means of communication.
Facilities such as chairs and tables.
Equipment (computer and projector).
White or chalkboard.
Meeting room.
Name tags for easy identification before the facilitator and group participants become familiar with one another.
Staff to clean, maintain, and arrange the meeting facility.
Facilitator and a co-facilitator.
Stationery such as notebooks and pens.
Handouts on different topics.
Refreshments.
Finances.
Therapist.
Program Activities
A group facilitator creates an environment that reduces a caregiver’s isolation, offers support, explores relevant topics/issues, provides resources, shares different coping strategies, and discovers new ones (Maas & Specht, 2011). Therefore, for the facilitator to achieve the described environment, they must implement a guided discussion. Participants will take part in a six-week training. Activities of the support group program include:
Caregivers will share updates on the issues of concern, challenges, problems, feelings, or ideas they experience throughout the week.
Guided discussions on the issues shared by group members.
Explore each week’s psychoeducational topics. These topics include self-care, stress, coping strategies, and mourning loss, among other topics as they will be raised. Handouts that include information on the topics to be covered will be provided.
Meditation and relaxation exercises. As previously mentioned, caregivers experience continuous stress, anxiety, and tension; hence meditation or relaxation activities can refresh and renew their energy (Ebenstein, 2006).
Desired Outcomes
The expected/desired outcomes are:
Caregivers will experience less loneliness and segregation.
Participants will have reduced levels of stress, tension, anxiety, and depression.
Improved sense of empowerment and regulation.
Group members will formulate practical solutions to the problems and challenges they encounter in their work.
The caregivers will learn and develop healthy coping strategies and skills.
Participants will improve their caregiving skills and provide a better quality of care to their clients.
Data Collection
Data will be collected using individual and group interviews, surveys, and focus groups. Semi-structured interviews will be used to collect qualitative data from participants. Semi-structured interviews involve asking questions that define the area/topic to be explored. Both the interviewer and participant can get to details of the topic. A semi-structured approach will allow participants to discuss important for them information but might not have been perceived as important by the facilitator (Bell, 2017). Focus groups will also be used to collect qualitative data from participants. Surveys will be essential in assessing participants’ satisfaction with the support group. Also, they will be used to identify areas that might require improvement in future programs.
Justification for Plans and Decisions
The proposed program resources will ensure that the program runs smoothly and effectively. Besides, they will help ensure that caregivers can concentrate on the program’s activities without worrying about their care-recipients. Without the identified resources, the program might not achieve its goals. Existing evidence indicates that instead of having lectures on different topics, caregivers prefer sharing and guided discussions. They allow them to explore the issues they are facing, help, and learn from one another. Qualitative data collection tools are recommended because they will allow the collection of in-depth data needed to understand participants’ experiences, thoughts, and ideas so that they receive appropriate and effective assistance.
Follow-up to the Needs Assessment at the Implementation Stage of Program Evaluation
A follow-up to the needs assessment will be required to determine the program’s effectiveness at the program evaluation implementation step. The follow-up will help identify if the program met the identified needs. It would include cost evaluation, assessment of the incorporated practices to determine if they were the best, and participation of caregivers by assessing attendance logs at the end of the program.
References
Bell, L. (2017). Research methods for social workers . Macmillan International Higher Education.
Ebenstein, H. (2006). Caregiver support groups: Finding common ground. Social Work With Groups , 29 (2-3), 243-258. https://doi.org/10.1300/j009v29n02_16
Maas, M. L., & Specht, J. P. (2011). Caregiver support groups: Led by peers, professional, or both. Education and Support Programs for Caregivers , 73-84. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8031-1_6
Reviere, R. (2013). Needs assessment: A creative and practical guide for social scientists . Taylor & Francis.
Thiry, M. (2015). Program management . Ashgate Publishing.
